JP2000354386A - Vibration wave motor drive controller, drive control method and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a bonded state due to dew formation without causing chipping of a contact face. SOLUTION: Based on environmental conditions detected by a temperature sensor 502 and a humidity sensor 503, a CPU 505 makes a decision whether bonding has occurred in a vibration wave motor 357 and notifies occurrence of bonding to a control terminal 511 connected through a network if a decision is made that bonding has occurred in the vibration wave motor 357. The control terminal 511 generates a heating command when it is notified occurrence of bonding. In response to the heating command, the CPU 505 operates a heater 507 disposed in the vicinity of the vibration wave motor 357 for a predetermined time thus eliminating bonding of the vibration wave motor 357.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vibration wave motor drive control device, a drive control method, and a storage medium.
An AC signal is applied to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element to drive and control a vibration wave motor that excites a vibrating body to obtain a driving force, and also drives a vibration wave motor connected to a control terminal via a network. The present invention relates to a control device, a drive control method applied to the vibration wave motor drive control device, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the drive control method.

[0002] The vibration wave motor rotates a transfer member such as a photosensitive drum, a transfer belt or a transfer drum included in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vibration wave motor has been known as a driving means having good rotation accuracy. In a vibration wave motor, a piezoelectric element is adhered to one side of an elastic body made of, for example, a metal ring by an adhesive, and an AC voltage having a different phase is applied to a group of driving piezoelectric elements formed on the piezoelectric element. Is applied, two standing waves are excited on the elastic body, and a progressive vibration wave that is a bending vibration is formed by combining these standing waves. On the other hand, on the other surface side of the elastic body, for example, an annular member is pressed through a pressing means such as a spring, and is driven by friction by a progressive vibration wave formed on the elastic body.
The member has been moved or the elastic body has been moved. In addition, the drive circuit that drives the vibration wave motor is fed back with a drive signal generation unit that generates an AC voltage, and a rotation speed of the vibration wave motor sent from an encoder attached to the vibration wave motor, and based on the rotation speed. And a control unit for performing speed control.

[0004] The vibration wave motor having such a configuration has good rotation accuracy and is resistant to transient load fluctuations.
Since it is advantageous for pitch unevenness and paper feed shock, it is currently being used for driving a photosensitive drum or a transfer belt of an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus.

In the vibration wave motor, since the elastic body and the ring-shaped member are always in pressure contact with each other, if dew condensation occurs inside the motor due to a change in the environment of the vibration wave motor,
The moisture may cause the elastic body and the annular member to adhere to each other. In this case, since the vibration wave motor cannot be started with the normal driving torque while the elastic body and the annular member are fixed, the driving voltage is increased, the starting torque is increased, and the fixed state is released. .

[0006]

However, in the conventional method of releasing the fixed state due to dew condensation by increasing the starting torque, an excessive stress is applied to the fixed portion, so that the contact between the elastic body and the ring-shaped member is caused. Defects can occur on the surface. When the contact surface is damaged, the excellent characteristics of the vibration wave motor such as stability of driving speed and low noise are deteriorated, and when the loss is further advanced, abnormal wear is caused and the vibration wave motor becomes unusable. There is a possibility.

In a conventional image forming apparatus in which a photosensitive drum or a transfer belt is rotationally driven by using a vibration wave motor which is a driving means having good rotational accuracy, for example, a change in the type of paper on which an image is formed and a driving system If the load on the vibration wave motor is significantly increased due to deterioration of the vibration wave motor, the vibration wave motor cannot be controlled sufficiently, and as a result, the vibration wave motor will not be driven normally and will be stopped due to the occurrence of abnormality. There was a thing.

Further, in a conventional image forming apparatus in which a photosensitive drum or a transfer belt is rotationally driven by using a vibration wave motor, an error stop occurs due to a failure of the vibration wave motor, and repair by a service person is required. In addition, the service person cannot know the abnormal condition of the vibration wave motor until he / she actually goes to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed, so that, for example, it is necessary to return a replacement part to the parts storage place. And there was a problem that prompt and appropriate responses could not be made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a vibration wave motor drive control device, drive control method, and storage medium that eliminates a fixed state due to dew condensation without causing a loss of a contact surface. The first object is to provide

Further, even when a load on the vibration wave motor is increased, a vibration wave motor drive control device, a drive control method, and a storage medium capable of normally driving the vibration wave motor and avoiding stopping the drive are provided. Second to do
The purpose of.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a vibration wave motor drive control device, a drive control method, and a storage medium that enable a serviceman to quickly and accurately grasp an abnormal state of the vibration wave motor.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an AC signal is applied to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element to excite a vibrating body to obtain a driving force. And a vibration wave motor drive control device connected to a control terminal via a network, wherein the vibration wave motor detects the surrounding environment state of the vibration wave motor, and the vibration wave motor A heating unit disposed in the vicinity, a sticking estimating unit for estimating whether or not sticking has occurred in the vibration wave motor based on an ambient environment state detected by the environment sensor; Notification means for notifying the control terminal of the occurrence of sticking when it is estimated that sticking has occurred in the wave motor; and before receiving notification of the occurrence of sticking from the notifying means. When the control terminal has generated the heating command receives a heating instruction, and having a heating control means for actuating the heating means for a predetermined time.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the driving of the vibration wave motor, which obtains the driving force by exciting the vibrating body by applying an AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and controlling the network. In a vibration wave motor drive control device that is connected to a control terminal through a plurality of different types of control methods, a state detection unit that detects a drive control state of the vibration wave motor,
Transmitting means for transmitting the drive control state data obtained by the state detection means to the control terminal; and receiving a control signal created and returned by the control terminal based on the drive control state data transmitted by the transmission means. It has a receiving means, and a drive control means for controlling the driving of the vibration wave motor by a control method instructed by a control signal received by the receiving means.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the driving of the vibration wave motor for applying the AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element to excite the vibrating body to obtain the driving force and to control the network. A vibration wave motor drive control device connected to the control terminal via the control terminal, a state detection means for detecting an operation state and a drive control state of the vibration wave motor, and operation state data and drive control obtained by the state detection means And notifying means for notifying the control terminal of status data.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the vibration-wave motor, which is configured to excite the vibrator by applying an AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element to obtain a driving force, and An environment sensor for detecting an ambient environment state of the vibration wave motor, and a heating unit disposed near the vibration wave motor, the vibration wave motor is applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device connected to a control terminal via a network. A drive control method, based on the surrounding environment state detected by the environment sensor, a stabilization estimation step of estimating whether or not the stiction has occurred in the vibration wave motor; A notification step of notifying the control terminal of the occurrence of the sticking when it is estimated that the sticking has occurred; and When end occurs a heating command receives a heating instruction, and having a heating control step of actuating the heating means for a predetermined time.

According to the thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the driving of the vibration wave motor for exciting the vibrating body to obtain the driving force by applying an AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element and controlling the network. A drive control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device, which is connected to a control terminal through a control terminal and can execute a plurality of different types of control methods, wherein a state of detecting a drive control state of the vibration wave motor is detected. A detection step, a transmission step of transmitting the drive control state data obtained by the state detection step to the control terminal, and a control created and returned by the control terminal based on the drive control state data transmitted by the transmission step. A receiving step of receiving a signal;
A driving control step of controlling the driving of the vibration wave motor by a control method instructed by the control signal received in the receiving step.

According to the invention of claim 36, the vibration wave motor, which is adapted to excite the vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, controls the driving, and establishes a network. In the drive control method applied to the vibration wave motor drive control device connected to the control terminal via the control terminal, a state detection step of detecting an operation state and a drive control state of the vibration wave motor, and a state detection step obtained by the state detection step. And a notifying step of notifying the control terminal of the operating state data and the drive control state data.

Further, according to the invention of claim 44,
An environmental sensor that drives and controls a vibration wave motor that excites a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and detects an ambient environment state of the vibration wave motor; Comprising a heating means disposed near the vibration wave motor, a drive control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device connected to a control terminal via a network, stored as a program,
In a computer-readable storage medium,
The drive control method includes a step of estimating whether or not the vibration wave motor is stuck based on the surrounding environment state detected by the environment sensor. When it is estimated that sticking has occurred, a notification step of notifying the control terminal of the occurrence of sticking, and when the control terminal having received the sticking occurrence notification has generated a heating command, receiving the heating command And a heating control step of operating the heating means for a predetermined time.

According to the fiftyth aspect of the present invention, the driving of the vibration wave motor which obtains the driving force by exciting the vibrating body by applying an AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is controlled, and the network is formed. A drive control method applied to the vibration wave motor drive control device, which is connected to the control terminal via the control terminal and can execute a plurality of different types of control methods, as a program, and in a computer-readable storage medium. A state detection step of detecting a drive control state of the vibration wave motor, a transmission step of transmitting drive control state data obtained by the state detection step to the control terminal, and the transmission step The control terminal receives a control signal created and returned by the control terminal based on the transmitted drive control state data. And having a reception step of, and a drive control step by a control method indicated by the received control signal by said receiving step controls driving of the vibration wave motor.

According to the fifty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the vibration-wave motor which excites the vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is driven and controlled, and a network is formed. A computer-readable storage medium storing a drive control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device connected to a control terminal via a program, wherein the drive control method is configured to control an operation state of the vibration wave motor. And a state detecting step of detecting a drive control state, and a notifying step of notifying the control terminal of operating state data and drive control state data obtained in the state detecting step.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a digital color copying machine including a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a reader unit is arranged at the top and a printer unit is arranged at the bottom.

(Configuration of Reader Unit) In FIG. 3, reference numeral 101 denotes a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as "CCD").
311 is a substrate on which the CCD 101 is mounted.
Reference numeral 12 denotes an image processing unit. The image processing unit 312 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a document table glass, 302 denotes a document feeder (DF), 303 and 304 denote light sources (halogen lamps or fluorescent lamps) for illuminating the document, and 305 and 306 collect light from the light sources 303 and 304 onto the document. Light reflecting umbrella, 30
7 to 309 are mirrors; 310 is a lens for condensing reflected light or projection light from the original on the CCD 101; 314 is light sources 303 and 304; reflectors 305 and 306;
And 315 are mirrors 308 and 3.
A carriage 313 for accommodating 09 is an interface (I / F) unit with an intelligent processing unit (IPU) or the like for realizing an interface with various other analog / digital images. Note that the carriage 314 has a velocity V, and the carriage 315 has a velocity V / 2.
Then, the CCD 101 is mechanically moved in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction, thereby scanning (sub-scanning) the entire surface of the document. Note that the document feeder 302 may be a mirror pressure plate instead.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the digital image processing unit 312. This figure shows CCD1
1, and the entire digital image processing unit 312 is shown by combining with the configuration shown in FIG.

The original on the platen glass 301 is a light source 30
3, 304, and the reflected light is reflected by the CCD 10
1 and converted into an electric signal. The CCD 10
1 is a color sensor, and RGB color filters are 1
A structure in which R, G, and B filters are arranged on each line CCD in an in-line manner in RGB order on a line CCD, a structure in which R filters, G filters, and B filters are arranged for each CCD, or a configuration in which filters are formed on-chip, or The filter may be configured differently from the CCD.

An electric signal (analog image signal) obtained by the CCD 101 is input to an image processing unit 312, sampled and held (S / H) in a clamp & Amp & S / H & A / D unit 102, and the dark level of the analog image signal is reduced. The signal is clamped to the reference potential, amplified to a predetermined amount (the processing order is not limited to the order described), A / D converted, and converted into, for example, a digital signal of 8 bits for each of RGB. Then, the shading unit 10 for the RGB signals
3, after the shading correction and the black correction are performed, the connection & MTF correction & original detection unit 104 performs the connection processing,
MTF correction and document detection are performed. In the splicing process, when the CCD 101 is a three-line CCD, the reading position between the lines is different. Therefore, the delay amount for each line is adjusted according to the reading speed, and the signal timing is corrected so that the reading positions of the three lines become the same. . In the MTF correction, since the reading MTF changes depending on the reading speed and the magnification, the change is corrected. In the document detection, the size of the document is recognized by scanning the document on the platen glass 301.

The input masking unit 105 responds to the digital signal whose read position timing has been corrected by a CCD.
101, light sources 303 and 304 and reflectors 305 and 306
Is corrected based on each of the spectral characteristics. The output signal of the input masking unit 105 is output to the external I / F unit 114 and input to the selector 106,
6, the output signal of the input masking unit 105 and the external I / F
One of the external I / F signals from unit 114 is selected.
The signal output from the selector 106 is input to the color space compression & background removal & LOG conversion unit 107 and background removal unit 115. After the signal input to the background removal unit 115 is subjected to background removal processing, the signal is input to a black character determination unit 116 that determines whether or not the document is a black character in the document, and the black character determination unit 116 outputs a black character signal from the document. Generate.

The color space compression & background removal & LOG conversion unit 107 performs the processes of color space compression, background removal and LOG conversion on the output of the selector 106. In the color space compression process, it is determined whether the read image signal is within the range that can be reproduced by the printer, and if so, the image signal should be within the range that can be reproduced by the printer. to correct. In the LOG conversion process, RGB signals are converted into CMY signals. Then, in the delay unit 108, color space compression, background removal, and LOG
The output signal of the conversion unit 107 is subjected to timing correction, and adjusted to the same timing as the signal generated by the black character determination unit 116.

The moiré removing unit 10 responds to these two signals.
In 9, a moiré removal process is performed.
Magnification processing is performed in the main scanning direction. The UCR & masking & black character reflection unit 111 performs a UCR process on the CMY signal processed by the scaling unit 110 to generate a CMYK signal. By the next masking process, the CMYK signal is converted to a signal suitable as an input signal of the printer. The correction signal that is corrected and generated by the black character determination unit 116 is fed back to the CMYK signal. The signal processed by the UCR & masking & black character reflection unit 111 is subjected to density adjustment by the γ correction unit 112 and then subjected to smoothing or edge processing by the filter unit 113.

The signal subjected to smoothing or edge processing in the filter unit 113 is subjected to head shading correction in order to correct unevenness in the main scanning direction of the LED head in a head shading unit (not shown). The data used for the head shading correction is obtained by reading a predetermined image printed by the CCD 101 and clamping and
The data that has been subjected to A / D conversion by the Amp & S / H & A / D unit 102 is subjected to processing such as thinning and averaging by a head shading sampling unit (not shown), and then the stored data is used.

The signal processed as described above is shown in FIG.
The value converter 201 converts the 8-bit multi-level signal into a binary signal. The conversion method may be any of a dither method, an error diffusion method, and an improved error diffusion method. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of the digital image processing unit 312 in a divided manner.

(Configuration of Printer Unit) In FIG.
7, Y image forming unit, 318, M image forming unit, 319, C image forming unit
The image forming unit 320 is a K image forming unit, and since the respective components are the same, the Y image forming unit 317 will be described in detail, and the description of the other image forming units will be omitted.

In the Y image forming section 317, a photosensitive drum 342 is driven by a vibration wave motor 357. A latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 342 by light from the LED array 210. A primary charger 321 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 342 to a predetermined potential to prepare for forming a latent image. A developing unit 322 develops a latent image on the photosensitive drum 342 to form a toner image. Note that the developing device 322 includes a sleeve 353 for applying a developing bias to perform development. A transfer charger 323 discharges from the back of the transfer belt 333 to transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 342 to recording paper on the transfer belt 333 or the like. In this embodiment, the transfer efficiency is good, so that the cleaner is not provided, but the cleaner may be attached.

Next, a procedure for forming an image on a recording paper or the like will be described.

The recording papers and the like stored in the cassettes 340 and 341 are taken out one by one by pickup rollers 339 and 338, and are fed onto a transfer belt 333 via feed rollers 336 and 337. The fed recording paper is charged by the adsorption charger 346. A transfer belt roller 348 is driven by the vibration wave motor 361. The transfer belt roller 348 drives the transfer belt 333, and charges the recording paper or the like in a pair with the attraction charger 346 to cause the transfer belt 333 to attract the recording paper or the like. 3
A paper edge sensor 47 detects the edge of the recording paper or the like on the transfer belt 333. The detection signal output from the paper edge sensor 347 is sent from the printer unit to the reader unit, and is used as a sub-scanning synchronization signal when a video signal is sent from the reader unit to the printer unit.

Thereafter, the recording paper or the like is conveyed by the transfer belt 333, and is transferred to the image forming units 317 to 320 in the Y direction.
A toner image is formed on the surface in the order of MCK. Finally, the recording paper or the like that has passed through the K image forming unit 320 is removed from the transfer belt 333 in order to facilitate separation therefrom.
, And then separated from the transfer belt 333. Reference numeral 350 denotes a peeling charger, which prevents image disturbance due to peeling discharge when the recording paper or the like is separated from the transfer belt 333. The separated recording paper and the like are charged by pre-fixing chargers 351 and 352 in order to compensate for the toner adsorption force and prevent image disorder, and thereafter, the toner image is heat-fixed by the fixing device 334 and then discharged. The paper is discharged to the paper tray 335.

Next, the LED image recording will be described with reference to FIG.

The binary Y output from the binary conversion unit 201
The MCK image signal is adjusted based on the paper leading edge signal from the paper leading edge sensor 347 to adjust the difference in the distance between the paper leading edge sensor 347 and each of the image forming units 317 to 320 in the delay units 202 to 205, respectively. It is possible to print four colors at predetermined positions. LED drive unit 20
6 to 209 generate signals for driving the LED units 210 to 213.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive drums 342 to 342
As drive motors for driving the transfer belt roller 45 and the transfer belt roller 348, vibration wave motors 357 to 361 are used, respectively. Each vibration wave motor includes a vibrating body, a moving body that rotates in contact with the vibrating body, an output shaft integrated with the moving body, and the like. This output shaft is directly connected to a photosensitive drum or a transfer belt roller. As a result, it is possible to eliminate play errors that occur when using transmission means such as gears and drive belts.

As described above, when the vibration wave motor is driven, when the ambient temperature and humidity change in a short period of time, internal dew condensation occurs, and the dew condensation causes the vibration wave motor to move with the vibrating body constituting the vibration wave motor. May stick to body. For this reason, in the copying machine of the present embodiment, as described below, the vibration wave motor drive control device is provided with a function of releasing the sticking. The fixing prevention function is performed by the photosensitive drums 342-3.
45 and the transfer belt roller 348 have the same configuration, so that only the vibration wave motor drive control device of the vibration wave motor 357 directly connected to the photosensitive drum 342 will be described below. The description of the vibration wave motor drive control device is omitted.

(Configuration of Vibration Wave Motor Drive Controller) FIG. 1
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a vibration wave motor 357 is directly connected to the photosensitive drum 342, and the drive of the vibration wave motor 357 is controlled by a motor control circuit 512. Reference numeral 502 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature near the vibration wave motor 357;
Reference numeral 3 denotes a humidity sensor for detecting humidity near the vibration wave motor 357. Analog outputs of the temperature sensor 502 and the humidity sensor 503 are converted into digital signals by the A / D converter 504 and input to the CPU 505. 5
Reference numeral 07 denotes an electrically controllable heater such as a halogen heater or a heating wire. Reference numeral 506 denotes a drive circuit for driving the heater 507 by a control signal from the CPU 505. Reference numeral 509 denotes a rotary encoder that detects the rotation speed of the vibration wave motor 357, and faces a disk 509a having a slit attached to the output shaft of the vibration wave motor 357. A control terminal 511 on a network (LAN) is connected to the CPU 505 via the I / F 510.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a fixing state releasing process performed by the CPU 505 when the vibration wave motor 357 has a fixing state.

In step S1, a printing operation is started. In step S2, the vibration wave motor 357 is driven,
In step S3, the output signal of the rotary encoder 509 is monitored, and in step S4, it is determined whether the vibration wave motor 357 is rotating. If the vibration wave motor 357 is rotating, the process returns to step S3, and continues to monitor the rotation of the vibration wave motor 357.
If 57 is not rotating, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the analog output of each of the temperature sensor 502 and the humidity sensor 503 is monitored by A / D conversion. In step S6, the vibration wave motor 357 is output.
Then, it is determined whether or not there is an environmental condition in which the sticking state is likely to occur, and thereby it is estimated whether the vibration wave motor 357 has a sticking state. This environmental condition
The ambient temperature and the ambient humidity at which dew condensation is likely to occur inside the vibration wave motor 357 or on the vibrating body or the moving body are obtained in advance by experiments and determined based on this data.

If the environment condition is such that the sticking state is likely to occur, the terminal 5 on the network is determined in step S9.
11, information indicating that the vibration wave motor 357 is stuck is transmitted. If the environmental condition is not such that the sticking state is likely to occur, information indicating that the vibration wave motor 357 does not rotate due to an abnormality other than the sticking is transmitted to the terminal 511 on the network in step S7, and step S8.
Ends the printing operation in the middle.

After transmitting the sticking information to the terminal 511 in step S9, it is checked in step S10 whether a sticking release command has been received from the terminal 511 on the network. If not received, the process returns to step S9, and the transmission of the sticking state occurrence information is continued. When the fixation release command is received, in step S11, the heater 507 is energized to heat the vibration wave motor 357 for a predetermined time. The predetermined time is set in advance to a minimum time required to release the fixed state of the vibration wave motor 357.

Alternatively, it may be a variable value set according to each output value of the temperature sensor 502 and the humidity sensor 503. That is, the temperature sensor 502 and the humidity sensor 50
According to each output value of No. 3, a predetermined time is obtained from a predetermined table. The predetermined table is obtained by experimentally obtaining the relationship between the temperature and humidity and the degree of dew condensation in advance, and further experimentally obtaining the relationship between the degree of dew condensation and the heating time required to eliminate the dew condensation. 6 is a table showing a correspondence relationship between a preset temperature and humidity and a heating time, based on FIG.

Then, in step S12, the vibration wave motor 357 is driven again, and in step S13, the output of the rotary encoder 509 is monitored. And step S1
At 4, it is determined whether or not the vibration wave motor 357 is rotating. If the vibration wave motor 357 is not rotating, the flow returns to step S11 and the vibration wave motor 3
Heat 57. If the vibration wave motor 357 is rotating, the printing operation is restarted in step S15, and information indicating that the vibration wave motor 357 has returned to the normal state is transmitted to the terminal 511 on the network in step S16. Ends this processing.

As described above, the fixed state generated in the vibration wave motor due to the condensation can be eliminated without causing the internal structure to be lost.

In the above-described embodiment, when the fixing release command is received from the terminal 511 on the network, the heater 507 is energized to release the fixing.
Alternatively, the heater 507 may be energized without waiting for a fixation release command from the terminal 511 when the fixation state is detected.

In this embodiment, the digital color copying machine has been described as an application example of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there is friction between a moving body such as a vibration wave motor and a moving body. The present invention is applied to various devices driven by a system driving means.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described.

The configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the second embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment will be used, and Only the components will be described.

In the second embodiment, the configuration of the vibration wave motor drive control device is different from that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, a detection signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the vibration wave motor 601 is output from a rotary encoder 602 attached to the vibration wave motor 601 to the speed difference detector 60.
3 and the speed difference detector 603 detects the speed difference between the detected rotation speed value and the target speed value. The speed difference is input to the drive frequency control unit 604, and the drive frequency control unit 6
The driving frequency generator 606 and the low-speed error detector 614 in FIG. The driving frequency generating section 606 generates a driving frequency based on the given speed difference, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIGS.

The drive frequency output from the drive frequency generator 606 is input to a drive pulse generator 610 in the drive signal generator 609, where a drive pulse is generated. Different AC voltages are generated and input to the piezoelectric element group in the vibration wave motor 601. In the vibration wave motor 601, an AC voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element group to excite two standing waves on the elastic body, and a combination of these standing waves causes a traveling vibration wave, which is bending vibration, to be generated. Form. On the elastic body, for example, an annular member is pressed through a pressing means such as a spring, and is driven by friction by a progressive vibration wave formed on the elastic body.
The vibration wave motor 601 is rotated by moving the member or moving the elastic body.

The drive frequency output from the drive frequency generator 606 is sent to the drive frequency detector 605. The driving frequency detection unit 605 compares the transmitted driving frequency with a preset maximum frequency and minimum frequency. The maximum frequency and the minimum frequency are drive frequencies corresponding to the minimum and maximum limit values of the rotational drive range in which the vibration wave motor 601 can be driven. As a result of the comparison, when the drive frequency becomes higher than the maximum frequency or becomes lower than the minimum frequency, error information of a maximum frequency error or a minimum frequency error is sent to the DC controller 612 having a CPU via the I / F 608.

The low-speed error detector 614 detects, based on the transmitted speed difference, when the vibration wave motor 601 is rotating at or below a predetermined reference low speed, and outputs error information indicating a low-speed error to I. / F608 to the DC controller 612.

The DC controller 6 receiving each error information
Numeral 12 denotes a vibration wave motor 6 which is a motor stop circuit (not shown).
01 is stopped. The error information is
DC controller 612 and system controller 61
3, a control terminal 61 on a network (LAN)
Sent to 5. A system controller 613 is a control device of the image forming apparatus main body.

The operator of the control terminal 615 controls the vibration wave motor 601 not only when the error information of the vibration wave motor 601 used in the image forming apparatus is received but also when the error information is not received. And a command regarding the control parameter can be transmitted from the control terminal 615 to the drive frequency control unit 604 via the system controller 613 and the DC controller 612 to change the control method and the control parameter. The command includes the content of how to control the control method between the PI control and the double integral control (II control), and the control parameter value.

The control terminal 615 sends an I / F 608, a DC controller 612,
A drive frequency is received via the system controller 613, and a determination is automatically made based on the drive frequency to create a command regarding a control method and control parameters of the vibration wave motor 601.

The command for changing the control method and control parameters of the vibration wave motor 601 sent from the control terminal 615 is sent to the control method switching unit 607 via the I / F 608 of the drive frequency control unit 604, Switching unit 607
Changes the control method (PI control / double integral control) of the vibration wave motor 601 set in the drive frequency generation unit 606 and the control parameter value. Drive frequency generator 60
6 outputs a drive frequency reflecting the changed control method and control parameters.

In this embodiment, a vibration wave motor is used to drive the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 and the transfer belt 333 of the digital color copying machine. Although the double integral control that can reduce the error to zero is used, the drive frequency generation unit 606 is set so that the control operation can be performed by PI control, and performs control according to the setting from the control method switching unit 607. These two control methods will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the double integral control (II control) performed by the drive frequency generator 606.

In the figure, a driving frequency generator 606
The operator 401 integrates the speed difference sent from the speed difference detector 603 (1 / S), and the operator 402 multiplies the control gain Gp. The output of the operator 401 is again integrated (1 / S) by the operator 404, and the operator 405 multiplies the control gain Gi. Output of operator 402 and operator 405
Is added by the operator 403 to generate a drive frequency. In the II control, when the value of the control gain Gp increases, the control accuracy decreases (stabilizes), and when the control gain Gp decreases, the control accuracy increases (easy to oscillate). When it becomes larger, the control accuracy becomes worse (stabilizes), and when it becomes smaller, the control accuracy becomes better (oscillates more easily).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing PI control (proportional-integral control) performed by drive frequency generating section 606.

In the figure, the driving frequency generator 606
The operator 406 multiplies the speed difference sent from the speed difference detector 603 by the control gain Gp. The operator 408 integrates the speed difference sent from the speed difference detector 603 (1/1).
S), and the operator 409 multiplies the control gain Gi.
The output of operator 406 and the output of operator 409 are combined with operator 4
07 add to generate a drive frequency. In this PI control, when the value of the control gain Gp increases, the control accuracy increases (easy to oscillate), and when the value decreases, the control accuracy decreases (stabilizes), and the control gain Gi increases. When it becomes smaller, the control accuracy becomes worse (stable), and when it becomes smaller, the control accuracy becomes better (easily oscillates).

As a feature of the II control, a steady position error can be reduced to zero. In addition, since the response is slow, the control becomes unstable if the system has a large delay. On the other hand, the PI control has a characteristic that the response is faster than the II control, but the steady-state error of the position does not become zero.

The control terminal 615 on the network selects one of the two control methods having such characteristics and sets a control parameter in accordance with the rotation state of the vibration wave motor 601.

That is, in general, the driving frequency changes in accordance with the fluctuation of the load of the vibration wave motor. In particular, when the load increases, the driving frequency decreases, and when the driving frequency becomes lower than the preset minimum frequency, the minimum frequency error decreases. Occurs and stops with an error. Specifically, for example, when the paper type of the transfer paper in the image forming apparatus changes, the load of the vibration wave motor that drives the transfer body for transporting the transfer paper may increase. In such a case, as described above, the drive frequency detection unit 605 compares the drive frequency with a preset minimum frequency, and when the drive frequency is lower than the minimum frequency, outputs error information of a minimum frequency error to the I / F 608. To the DC controller 612. DC controller 612 receiving this error information
Stops the rotation drive of the vibration wave motor 601.

In order to avoid such a rotation stop, the control terminal 615 on the network monitors the drive frequency and changes the control method. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how the drive frequency changes with the switching of the control method. That is, the rotation speed of the vibration wave motor 601 is normally controlled by double integral control. For example, when the load of the vibration wave motor 601 increases, the rotation speed decreases, and the drive frequency decreases. Then, when the driving frequency is lower than the minimum control method switching frequency (a value larger than the minimum frequency of the driving frequency detecting unit 605) (), the control terminal 615 transmits a control method switching signal to the control method switching unit 607. Thereby, the control method switching unit 607 switches the control method in the drive frequency generation unit 606 from the double integral control to the PI control. As a result, the drive frequency rises and does not enter the vibration wave motor stop region, so that occurrence of a minimum frequency error can be avoided. Note that, when the drive frequency increases, the minimum control method switching frequency is reached (). Here, the control terminal 615 transmits a control method switching signal to the control method switching unit 607, whereby the drive frequency generating unit The control method at 606 is switched from PI control to double integral control.

In the case where the drive frequency rises above the drive frequency during normal rotation and exceeds the maximum control method switching frequency (a value smaller than the maximum frequency of the drive frequency detector 605), the same applies to the control method. Is switched, and the vibration wave motor does not enter the stop region, thereby avoiding the occurrence of the maximum frequency error.

The switching of the control method according to the change of the drive frequency from the drive frequency at the time of the normal rotation is described in the patent application specification (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-34325) filed by the present applicant.
No. 8) has a detailed explanation.

Note that the control terminal 615 on the network may change the control parameter value in order to prevent the rotation stop from occurring due to the load fluctuation of the vibration wave motor 601.

Thus, even when the load on the vibration wave motor increases, control suitable for such a state can be performed. As a result, the vibration wave motor is driven normally, and is stopped assuming that an abnormality has occurred. Will not be lost.

In the second embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital color copying machine is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that can use a drive unit that is driven and controlled by a drive control device that can be changed.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described.

Since the configuration of the third embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the second embodiment, in the description of the third embodiment, the configuration of the second embodiment will be used Only the components will be described.

In the third embodiment, the configuration of the vibration wave motor drive control device is different from that of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 10, a detection signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the vibration wave motor 701 is output from a rotary encoder 702 attached to the vibration wave motor 701 to the speed difference detector 7.
03, the speed difference detector 703 detects a speed difference between the detected rotation speed value and the target speed value. The speed difference is input to the drive frequency generator 706, and the drive frequency generator 706 generates a drive frequency based on the given speed difference, the details of which are described above with reference to FIGS. Second
This is the same as the embodiment.

The drive frequency output from the drive frequency generator 706 is input to a drive pulse generator 710 in the drive signal generator 709, where a drive pulse is generated. Different AC voltages are generated and input to the piezoelectric element group in the vibration wave motor 701. In the vibration wave motor 701, two standing waves are excited on the elastic body by applying an AC voltage to the piezoelectric element group, and a progressive vibration wave that is bending vibration is generated by combining these standing waves. Form. On the elastic body, for example, an annular member is pressed through a pressing means such as a spring, and is driven by friction by a progressive vibration wave formed on the elastic body.
The vibration wave motor 701 is rotated by moving the member or moving the elastic body.

The drive frequency output from the drive frequency generator 706 is sent to the drive frequency detector 705. The driving frequency detecting unit 705 compares the transmitted driving frequency with a preset maximum frequency and minimum frequency. These maximum frequency and minimum frequency are drive frequencies corresponding to the minimum and maximum limit values of the rotational drive range in which the vibration wave motor 701 can be driven. As a result of the comparison, when the drive frequency becomes higher than the maximum frequency or becomes lower than the minimum frequency, error information of a maximum frequency error or a minimum frequency error is sent to the I / F 708 in the vibration wave motor control system 704.

The output of the rotary encoder 702 is also sent to a rotation speed detector 716 and a rotation direction detector 714. The rotation speed detector 716 is a rotary encoder 70.
2, the rotational speed of the vibration wave motor 701 is detected and sent to the I / F 708, and the fact that the vibration wave motor 701 is not rotating is detected in comparison with the reference speed. The information is sent to the I / F 708. Also, the rotary encoder 702 outputs a two-phase encoder output signal,
Is based on a two-phase encoder output signal,
The I / F 70 monitors whether or not No. 01 is rotating in the reverse direction.
Send to 8.

The driving frequency detecting section 705 further includes:
The drive frequency, which is the frequency of the drive pulse of the vibration wave motor 701, the drive pulse generator 710 determines the pulse width of the drive pulse, and the drive frequency generator 706 controls the control method (double integration control) implemented in the closed loop control system. Or proportional integral control) and the set control parameter value
Send to 08.

The I / F 708 sends the transmitted information to the control terminal 715 on the network via the CPU 717 of the control device of the image forming apparatus main body. The network referred to here may be a LAN or a network via a telephone line. Control terminal 71 on network
In 5, each error information relating to the vibration wave motor 701, operation state information such as rotation speed, and set values such as control parameters are displayed, and a serviceman can recognize them. Note that the control terminal 715 may request the vibration wave motor control system 704 to provide such information as necessary.

Thus, in the image forming apparatus, an error stop occurs due to the failure of the vibration wave motor 701,
When a repair by a serviceman becomes necessary, the serviceman can immediately and accurately grasp the abnormal state of the vibration wave motor 701 without actually going to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed. Therefore, it is possible to prepare necessary replacement parts before going to the installation location and to go out, so that quick and appropriate response can be made.

In the third embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital color copying machine is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. And a network-compatible image forming apparatus that drives a transfer member.

Further, the vibration motor drive control device in each of the above-described embodiments may be constituted by hardware or software. When the function of the vibration motor drive control device is realized by software, ,
The present invention can also be realized by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes to a system or an apparatus, and having a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus read and execute the program codes stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this is achieved.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and CD.
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the function of each embodiment described above is realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. .

[0098]

As described in detail above, claims 1 and 2 have been described.
According to the third or 44th aspect, it is estimated whether or not the vibration wave motor is stuck based on the surrounding environment state detected by the environment sensor, and the vibration wave motor is stuck. When it is estimated, the occurrence of sticking is notified to the control terminal connected via the network. When the control terminal that has received the notification of the occurrence of sticking generates a heating command, the control terminal receives the heating command and operates the heating unit for a predetermined time.

As a result, even when dew condensation occurs inside the vibration wave motor due to a change in environment and the moisture causes the elastic body and the annular member in the vibration wave motor to adhere to each other, the control terminal is not attached to the vibration wave motor. Receiving the information of the occurrence, the control terminal transmits a heating command for eliminating the sticking, the sticking of the vibration wave motor in the image forming apparatus is canceled,
The activation of the vibration wave motor can be ensured, and the contact surface can be prevented from being lost due to sticking due to dew condensation.

According to the ninth, thirty-first, or fifty-second aspects of the present invention, the drive control state data of the vibration wave motor is transmitted to a control terminal connected via a network, and the control terminal A control signal is created and returned based on the transmitted drive control state data. Upon receiving this control signal, drive control of the vibration wave motor is performed by a control method instructed by the control signal.

Thus, for example, in an image forming apparatus including a vibration wave motor, if the load on the vibration wave motor is significantly increased due to a change in paper type, deterioration of a driving system, or the like, a control method or the like from a control terminal on the network. , The vibration wave motor can be driven normally, and drive stop can be avoided.

Further, according to the invention of claim 15, 36 or 54, the operating state and the driving control state of the vibration wave motor are detected, and the operating state data and the driving control state data are transmitted via the network. To the connected control terminal.

As a result, when an error stop occurs due to a failure of the vibration wave motor and repair by a service man is required, the state of the vibration wave motor can be recognized from the control terminal on the network. Quick and appropriate processing can be performed on a vibration wave motor having a defect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a fixing state releasing process performed by a CPU when a fixing state occurs in the vibration wave motor.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a digital color copying machine including the vibration wave motor drive control device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a digital image processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of the digital image processing unit in a divided manner.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a double integral control (II
FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing PI control (proportional-integral control) performed by a drive frequency generation unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a drive frequency changes with switching of a control method.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vibration wave motor drive control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 333 Transfer belt 342 to 345 Photosensitive drum 348 Transfer belt roller 357 Vibration wave motor 502 Temperature sensor 503 Humidity sensor 505 CPU 507 Heater 509 Rotary encoder 511 Control terminal 512 Motor control circuit 601 Vibration wave motor 602 Rotary encoder 606 Drive frequency generation unit 607 Control Method switching unit 609 Drive signal generator 615 Control terminal 701 Vibration wave motor 702 Rotary encoder 706 Drive frequency generator 709 Drive signal generator 715 Control terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 500 G03G 21/00 500 F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AQ06 HH01 HJ10 HK10 HN05 HN15 HN22 HV02 HV22 HV35 HV44 2H027 DA11 DA16 DA50 EA18 EC10 EC20 ED02 ED16 ED24 EE04 EE07 EF06 EF09 HA02 HA03 HA12 ZA08 2H032 BA07 BA15 CA01 CA12 CA14 2H035 CG01 CG03 5H680 AA00 AA07 AA12 BB03 DD07 DD03 BC03 DD03

Claims (62)

[Claims] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a drive of a vibration wave motor which excites a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and is connected to a control terminal via a network. In the vibration wave motor drive control device, an environment sensor for detecting the surrounding environment state of the vibration wave motor, a heating unit disposed near the vibration wave motor, and a surrounding environment state detected by the environment sensor, Fixation estimating means for estimating whether or not fixation has occurred in the vibration wave motor; and when the fixation estimation means estimates that fixation has occurred in the vibration wave motor, the control terminal notifies the control terminal of the occurrence of fixation. Notifying means for notifying, when the control terminal having received the stuck occurrence notification from the notifying means generates a heating command, receiving the heating command, the heating Vibration wave motor drive control apparatus characterized by having a heating control means for actuating the stepped predetermined time. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: rotation monitoring means for monitoring a rotation state of the vibration wave motor, wherein the adhesion estimation means detects the occurrence of the adhesion when the rotation monitoring means does not detect the rotation of the vibration wave motor. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 1, wherein estimation is started. 3. When the rotation of the vibration wave motor is not detected by the rotation monitoring means, and when it is estimated that the vibration wave motor is not stuck by the stuck estimating means, the stuck to the control terminal. Notifying that the vibration wave motor does not rotate due to abnormalities other than,
3. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 2, further comprising a notification stopping unit that stops a function of a driven device driven by the vibration wave motor. 4. The vibration according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is set in advance to a minimum time required to eliminate the sticking of the vibration wave motor. Wave motor drive control device. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is obtained by experimentally obtaining a degree of sticking according to the surrounding environment state and a sticking elimination time according to the sticking degree in advance, and based on the obtained experimental value, removing sticking according to the surrounding environment state. 4. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration wave motor drive control device is set with reference to a correspondence table between an ambient environment state set as time and a fixation time. 5. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment sensor is a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature of the vibration wave motor and a humidity sensor for detecting an ambient humidity. Vibration wave motor drive control device. 7. The vibration wave motor drive control according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion generated in the vibration wave motor is caused by dew condensation generated in the vibration wave motor. apparatus. 8. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration wave motor drives a photosensitive member or a transfer member of the image forming apparatus. 9. A vibration wave motor that excites a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, controls the driving, and is connected to a control terminal via a network. A vibration wave motor drive control device capable of executing a plurality of different types of control processing; a state detection means for detecting a drive control state of the vibration wave motor; and a drive control state obtained by the state detection means. Transmitting means for transmitting data to the control terminal; receiving means for receiving a control signal created and returned by the control terminal based on the drive control state data transmitted by the transmitting means; Drive control means for controlling the drive of the vibration wave motor by a control process instructed by a control signal. Wave motor drive control device. 10. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 9, wherein said state detection means detects a drive frequency of said vibration wave motor. 11. The drive control unit according to claim 9, wherein the drive control unit performs drive control of the vibration wave motor in accordance with a control parameter value specified by a control signal received by the reception unit. Vibration wave motor drive control device. 12. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 9, wherein the control processing is at least a proportional integral control method and a double integral control method. 13. The drive control means according to claim 9, wherein said drive control means comprises a closed loop control system for detecting a rotational speed of said vibration wave motor and feeding back the detected rotational speed. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to any one of the above. 14. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 9, wherein said vibration wave motor drives a photosensitive member or a transfer member of an image forming apparatus. 15. A vibration wave motor that excites a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element to drive and control the vibration wave motor, and is connected to a control terminal via a network. A vibration wave motor drive control device, comprising: a state detection means for detecting an operation state and / or a drive control state of the vibration wave motor; and operating state data or / and drive control state data obtained by the state detection means. A vibration wave motor drive control device, comprising: a notification unit that notifies a control terminal. 16. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 15, wherein the operation state detected by the state detection means is a rotation speed of the vibration wave motor. 17. The drive control state detected by the state detection means is a drive frequency and a drive pulse width of the vibration wave motor.
The vibration wave motor drive control device according to the above. 18. The drive control state detected by the state detection means is a control method and a control parameter value of the vibration wave motor.
The vibration wave motor drive control device according to any one of the above. 19. The vibration wave motor drive control according to claim 15, wherein the drive control state detected by the state detection means is error stop information of the vibration wave motor. apparatus. 20. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a drive control means comprising a closed loop control system for detecting a rotation speed of said vibration wave motor and feeding back the detected rotation speed. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to any one of the above. 21. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 20, wherein the drive control means selectively executes one of a proportional integral control method and a double integral control method. 22. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 15, wherein the vibration wave motor drives a photosensitive member or a transfer member of an image forming apparatus. 23. A drive of a vibration wave motor for exciting a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electromechanical energy conversion element, and detecting a surrounding environment state of the vibration wave motor. An environment sensor to perform, and a driving control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device connected to a control terminal via a network, comprising: a heating unit disposed in the vicinity of the vibration wave motor; Based on the detected surrounding environment state, a sticking estimation step of estimating whether or not the vibration wave motor is stuck; and the sticking estimation step estimates that the vibration wave motor is stuck. A notification step of notifying the control terminal of the occurrence of the sticking, and when the control terminal receiving the notification of the occurrence of the sticking generates a heating command, A heating control step of receiving the heating command and operating the heating means for a predetermined time. 24. The method according to claim 24, further comprising: a rotation monitoring step of monitoring a rotation state of the vibration wave motor; wherein the sticking estimation step is performed when the rotation of the vibration wave motor is not detected by the rotation monitoring step. 24. An estimation is started.
The drive control method described in the above. 25. When the rotation of the vibration wave motor is not detected by the rotation monitoring step and it is estimated that the vibration wave motor is not fixed by the fixation estimation step, A notification stopping step of notifying that the vibration wave motor does not rotate due to an abnormality other than the above, and causing a driven device driven by the vibration wave motor to stop functioning. The drive control method according to claim 24. 26. The driving device according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined time is set in advance to a minimum time required for eliminating the sticking of the vibration wave motor. Control method. 27. The predetermined time is obtained by experimentally obtaining a degree of sticking according to the surrounding environment state and a sticking elimination time according to the degree of sticking in advance, and based on the obtained experimental value, removing sticking according to the surrounding environment state. 26. The drive control method according to claim 23, wherein the drive control method is set by referring to a correspondence table between an ambient environment state set as time and a fixation elimination time. 28. The drive control method according to claim 23, wherein the ambient environment state detected by the environment sensor is an ambient temperature and an ambient humidity of the vibration wave motor. . 29. The drive control method according to claim 23, wherein the sticking generated in the vibration wave motor is caused by dew condensation generated in the vibration wave motor. 30. The drive control method according to claim 23, wherein the vibration wave motor drives a photosensitive member or a transfer member of the image forming apparatus. 31. A vibration wave motor that excites a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and controls the driving, and is connected to a control terminal via a network. A drive control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device capable of executing a plurality of different types of control processing; a state detection step of detecting a drive control state of the vibration wave motor; and the state detection step. A transmission step of transmitting the drive control state data obtained by the control terminal to the control terminal, and a reception step of receiving a control signal created and returned by the control terminal based on the drive control state data transmitted by the transmission step, Driving the vibration wave motor by a control process instructed by the control signal received in the receiving step Drive control method characterized in that it comprises a drive control step of performing control. 32. The drive control method according to claim 31, wherein the state detection step detects a drive frequency of the vibration wave motor. 33. The drive control of the vibration wave motor according to claim 31, wherein the drive control step performs drive control of the vibration wave motor in accordance with a control parameter value specified by a control signal received in the reception step. Drive control method. 34. The drive control method according to claim 31, wherein the control processing is at least a proportional integral control method and a double integral control method. 35. The drive control method according to claim 31, wherein the vibration wave motor drives a photosensitive member or a transfer member of the image forming apparatus. 36. A vibration wave motor, which is adapted to excite a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an alternating current signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and to be connected to a control terminal via a network. A drive control method applied to the vibration wave motor drive control device, wherein: a state detection step of detecting an operation state or / and a drive control state of the vibration wave motor; and operation state data or // And a notifying step of notifying the control terminal of drive control state data. 37. The drive control method according to claim 36, wherein the operation state detected in the state detection step is a rotation speed of the vibration wave motor. 38. The drive control method according to claim 36, wherein the drive control state detected in the state detection step is a drive frequency and a drive pulse width of the vibration wave motor. 39. The drive according to claim 36, wherein the drive control state detected in the state detection step is a control method and a control parameter value of the vibration wave motor. Control method. 40. The drive control method according to claim 36, wherein the drive control state detected in the state detection step is error stop information of the vibration wave motor. 41. The method according to claim 36, further comprising a drive control step of detecting a rotation speed of the vibration wave motor and feeding back the detected rotation speed to determine a drive frequency. The drive control method according to any one of the above. 42. The drive control method according to claim 41, wherein in the drive control step, one of a proportional integral control method and a double integral control method is selectively performed. 43. The drive control method according to claim 36, wherein the vibration wave motor drives a photosensitive member or a transfer member of the image forming apparatus. 44. A vibration wave motor, which is adapted to excite a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and to detect a surrounding environment state of the vibration wave motor. An environment sensor and a heating unit disposed near the vibration wave motor, and a drive control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device connected to a control terminal via a network is stored as a program. A storage medium readable by a computer, the drive control method comprising: a fixation estimation step of estimating whether or not fixation has occurred in the vibration wave motor based on an ambient environment state detected by the environment sensor; When it is estimated that the vibration wave motor is stuck by the stuck estimation step, the stuck occurrence is notified to the control terminal. A notification step of notifying, and when the control terminal having received the sticking occurrence notification generates a heating command, the control terminal receives the heating command, and has a heating control step of operating the heating unit for a predetermined time. Storage media. 45. The drive control method further includes a rotation monitoring step of monitoring a rotation state of the vibration wave motor, wherein the sticking estimation step is performed when the rotation of the vibration wave motor is not detected by the rotation monitoring step. 45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the estimation of the occurrence of the sticking is started.
The storage medium according to the above. 46. The drive control method, wherein when the rotation of the vibration wave motor is not detected by the rotation monitoring step, and it is estimated that the vibration wave motor is not stuck by the sticking estimation step, Notifying the control terminal that the vibration wave motor does not rotate due to an abnormality other than fixation, and a notification stopping step of stopping the function of a driven device driven by the vibration wave motor. 46. The storage medium according to claim 45, comprising: 47. The storage according to claim 44, wherein the predetermined time is set in advance to a minimum time required to eliminate the sticking of the vibration wave motor. Medium. 48. The predetermined time is obtained by experimentally obtaining in advance a degree of sticking according to the surrounding environment state and a sticking elimination time according to the sticking degree, and based on the obtained experimental value, removing sticking according to the surrounding environment state. The storage medium according to any one of claims 44 to 46, wherein the storage medium is set with reference to a correspondence table between an ambient environment state set as time and a fixation elimination time. 49. The storage medium according to claim 44, wherein the surrounding environment state detected by said environment sensor is a surrounding temperature and a surrounding humidity of said vibration wave motor. 50. A vibration wave motor, which is adapted to excite a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and is connected to a control terminal via a network. And a computer-readable storage medium storing a drive control method applied to a vibration wave motor drive control device capable of executing a plurality of different types of control processing as a program, wherein the drive control method includes: A state detection step of detecting a drive control state of the vibration wave motor; a transmission step of transmitting drive control state data obtained by the state detection step to the control terminal; and a drive control state data transmitted by the transmission step. Receiving a control signal created and returned by the control terminal based on the Storage medium characterized by having a drive control step for controlling the driving of the vibration wave motor by the control processing instructed by the control signals received by the receiving step. 51. The storage medium according to claim 50, wherein said state detecting step detects a driving frequency of said vibration wave motor. 52. The drive control step according to claim 50, wherein the drive control of the vibration wave motor is performed in accordance with a control parameter value designated by a control signal received in the reception step. Storage media. 53. The storage medium according to claim 50, wherein said control processing is at least a proportional integral control method and a double integral control method. 54. A vibration wave motor, which is adapted to excite a vibrating body to obtain a driving force by applying an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and to be connected to a control terminal via a network. A computer-readable storage medium storing a drive control method applied to the vibration wave motor drive control device as a program, wherein the drive control method detects an operating state and / or a drive control state of the vibration wave motor. A storage medium, comprising: a state detecting step of performing the operation; and a notifying step of notifying the control terminal of operating state data and / or drive control state data obtained in the state detecting step. 55. The storage medium according to claim 54, wherein the operation state detected in said state detection step is a rotation speed of said vibration wave motor. 56. The storage medium according to claim 54, wherein the drive control state detected in the state detection step is a drive frequency and a drive pulse width of the vibration wave motor. 57. The storage according to claim 54, wherein the drive control state detected in the state detection step is a control method and a control parameter value of the vibration wave motor. Medium. 58. The storage medium according to claim 54, wherein the drive control state detected in the state detection step is error stop information of the vibration wave motor. 59. The drive control method according to claim 54, further comprising a drive control step of detecting a rotation speed of the vibration wave motor and feeding back the detected rotation speed to determine a drive frequency. To claim 58
The storage medium according to any one of the above. 60. The storage medium according to claim 59, wherein in said drive control step, one of a proportional integral control method and a double integral control method is selectively performed. 61. A vibration wave motor that obtains a driving force by exciting a vibrator by adding an AC signal to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and controls a vibration wave connected to a control terminal via a network. In the motor drive control device, estimating means for estimating that the vibration wave motor is in a fixed state, and when the estimating means estimates that the vibration wave motor is in a fixed state,
A communication unit that notifies the control terminal of the estimation result via the network and receives a fixation release command from the control terminal via the network, and a release unit that performs a fixation release process according to the fixation release command. A vibration wave motor drive control device, comprising: 62. When the vibration wave motor is driven by releasing the fixing by the releasing means, the control terminal sends the vibration wave motor to the control terminal via the network, or the vibration wave motor is released. 62. The vibration wave motor drive control device according to claim 61, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that the wave motor is in a normal state.